@West.
As I said when I started this thread, I am a freedom of choice person. I sometimes disagree with some of the openly religious posters when we're discussing such things as abortion and gay rights, but I do agree with a person's right to hold a religious/philosophical belief and don't try to denigrate them over this.

As an analogy, if you were in hospital and it was my job to look after your non-medical requirements, if you expressed a wish for any legally available reading matter, then I would do my best to provide it. I would not be judgemental if your choice of literature did not match mine. I would generally regard it as none of my business what you wanted to read.

If your choice seemed to me to be medically or psychologically unusual for a person in your known or suspected medical/psychological condition, then I may seek the advice of a suitably qualified person. Not to deny you your choice, but because I may feel that I am not suitably qualified to handle what seemed to be an unusual, possibly health related situation.

I think that you may be suggesting that the Bible may not be suitable reading for people who may be approaching death. From the point of view of a Christian, it may be the best possible choice at a time like that. I would hope that most psychiatrists would see it that way too, even those who are confirmed atheists. Peace of mind in a time of extreme stress is a wonderful thing. Get it from drugs or get it from the literature of your choice, just get it if you can.

Rex of course people should have choice. To place an occult tale such as the Bible next to a hospital bed is not giving a person choice it is simply placed in the hope that a person is so derranged by pain that they can be conned into believing in the particular brand god.The presence of the Bible does not install confidence in me. Is the darkage superstition of Christianity the ethic of the hospital? What if a doctor is Christian? I certainly could never trust a Christian doctor. What does the bible say about a place? will they try and treat with spells (Prayer)? Will they burn me as a witch because I lived next door to lesbians? Why not place pictures of kittens or puppies , waterfalls , or a reading list giving the choice of many books? Christian concern for others is fake and placing bibles is a veiled attempt at recruiting the vulnerable.

West,
Many of our leading surgeons are Christian, are you going to deny them treatment of you when you are in serious trouble. Yes they may pray for alertness, wisdom and care before and while in surgeory. They are not indifferent nor casual about your treatment, because you are an atheist; nor are they most carefull just to convert you.

You assume you know all the motives of Christians - that they are doing things just for personal reward. I see you are very familiar with the selfish motivations of others and assume that with this inner knowledge you practise this same motivation, "What's in it for me?"

Philo what 'leading" surgeon is a Christian. Honestly I would like to be warned so I will never take the risk. I cannot trust anybody who believes in miracles and demons to provide appropriate health care. Diagnosis is a process of science, it is determined by empirical evidence. Knowledge is accumulated and tested, defunct or supported. To believe in God a person must deny truth and relate everything back to the ego. God does not exist outside of the believers mind. For a surgeon with that level of self obsession it is alarming that he would put a knife to a person, what if demons or gargoyles crawl out of the incision.He can afford to be sloppy because miracles (magic) will fix mistakes. What if God guides him? According to the Bible God is completely ignorant of even basic biology.

To respond to you Philo , I obviously will be selfish to a point. The difference is when I help people it is sincere, I have had nothing personal to gain from anybody I have helped other than the satisfaction that they were no longer in crisis or a job such as research was being done. Yes I stand to gain reciprocity from family, friends and neighbours but that is how our community functions and I never ever have thought of repayment when helping anybody. I believe in freedom , my help is free. If you care to read the Bible or Quran or go and listen to a sermon helping others is all about gaining brownie points with your idol. Regardless placing Bibles next to hospital beds is not helping others , it is an advertising campaign. It proves my point that Christians attempt to pass off their corruption of conversion as helping others.

West,
The highly respected heart surgeon whom you might recognise - Dr Chan was a devout Christian. You talk such nonsence as "what if demons or gargoyles crawl out of the incision". Louis Pasteur clarified such views; the living beings coming out of the infection were not demon spirits but are bacteria that can be destroyed by heat, water or medication. That the ancients deduced disease was caused by unseen creatures is not too far fetched, it is just they did not have knowlege of reality.

Belief in spirit beings is not a monotheistic Christian World view is is a polytheistic primitive superstitious view. In Christianity there are no such beings as such views were denounced by Christ. The ancient Roman world believed in such, but Jesus assisted the superstitious to believe hey were free from such, by stating all power resides in the Creator.